Hate speech: FG to come hard on the media

The All Progressives Congress has become increasingly intolerant of criticisms and opposition since the press releases from two former presidents and retired Generals, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida.
It will be recalled that the missives has sparked controversy and resulted in emergency security meetings with the presidency, after which the the security agencies stated boldly that there is going to be monitoring of online activities, particularly as it relates to prominent Nigerians. This was apparently a knee-jerk reaction to the hue and cry over the nonchalant attitude shown by the Federal Government over the killings in Benue by the Fulani Herdsmen.The reactions, which appear to be uncoordinated, became the but of criticisms both from the opposition and the mainstream press.

But it appears the censorship is working. Recently, there were reports of another set of students abducted by Boko Haram in Government Girls secondary School in Dapchi, Yobe state. According to an eyewitness account, many students were unlucky during the insurgents’ attack on the school as well as Dapchi town. It was confirmed by Yobe Commissioner of police, AbdulMaliki Sumonu,

“I was in the school when the Boko Haram insurgents came at exactly the time we were preparing to break our usual Monday fast” said Aishatu Abdullahi, a Senior Secondary Student that escaped the attack. “They were shooting guns and everyone was confused; then we started running helter skelter but they were able to. We saw some people pushing some of the students to enter their vehicles There were no soldiers at the time of the invasion. It was later after the principal placed a call that some soldiers came and then we began to see helicopter hovering around the village.

”We were in the mosque when the Boko Haram gunmen came into the town. According to the accounts of some of my mates, the Boko Haram told those that were caught in the mosque to sit on the floor, including our teachers. One of our teacher was injured in his leg and hand – I don’t know if it was from gunshot. We don’t know what later happened, the gunmen later left the people in the mosque.”

Initially, the police said that there were no casualties, later, they admitted there were three casualties.But the strange part is that there appears to be a conspiracy of silence among international media contrary to what obtained during the abduction of chibok girls. Even the local media is downplaying the issue. Besides rumors of a presidential big wig losing his son is allegedly being supressed. In fact, journalists were alleged tom have been forced to pull down stories about the death on security grounds.

Lai Mohamed, minister of information has categorically said that government will crack down on hate speech.